Companies often include a number of caveats in these filings. At most fast-food companies, the "median" worker — as determined by pay — is not a full-time worker, meaning that they likely work roughly 20 to 25 hours a week. It is difficult to directly compare fast-food rivals, as many mega-chains are franchised, meaning most in-store workers do not actually work directly for the company and therefore would not be included in calculations.

Further, CEOs typically are compensated in bonuses and stock on top of their base salary. For example, 90% of McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook's compensation is directly tied to the company's performance.

All caveats aside, the gap between CEO and the average worker is stark. For every $1 the average Starbucks worker made in 2018, CEO Kevin Johnson made $1,049 — and the gap was even greater at other fast-food industry giants.

Here is how 12 of the biggest names in fast food stack up when it comes to CEO-to-median worker pay.

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12. Dunkin' Brands (Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin Robbins)

Business Insider/Jessica Tyler

Ratio: 48.4 to 1

CEO pay: $5,349,292

Median worker pay: $110,471

Dunkin' analyzed the pay of full-time, part-time, and temporary employees as of December 30, 2017 at its corporate offices as well as Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins chains.

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11. Dine Brands (IHOP, Applebee's)

Hollis Johnson

Ratio: 64 to 1

CEO pay: $7,754,880

Median worker pay: $121,200

As a primarily franchised company, Dine Brands determined the median employee in 2017 based on the salaries of 487 workers in the US.

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10. Wingstop

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Ratio: 132 to 1

CEO pay: $2,761,084

Median worker pay: $20,976

In 2017, CEO Charlie Morrison made 132 times the median pay of Wingstop employees.

As of the end of December 2017, Restaurant Brands International reported that its "employee population for pay ratio disclosure purposes consisted of approximately 4,692 individuals working in locations around the world."

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8. Brinker International (Chili's and Maggiano's Little Italy)

Facebook/Chili's

Ratio: 271 to 1

CEO pay: $5,445,226

Median worker pay: $20,092

Brinker International CEO Wyman Roberts additionally received a one-time grant of stock options related to his performance in fiscal 2018, valued at $1,373,503, that was not included in the calculation of the pay ratio.

7. Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box's 2018 median employee was "a restaurant Team Member who worked an average of 21.4 hours per week."

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6. Domino's

Darren Weaver

Ratio: 461 to 1

CEO pay: $7,939,727

Median worker pay: $17,226

"Based on total cash compensation, our median employee was identified as a part-time delivery driver who worked an average of 25 hours per week and was employed by the Company for 23 of 26 pay periods," reads Domino's filing on fiscal 2017.

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5. Chipotle

Hollis Johnson

Ratio: 814 to 1

CEO pay: $11,050,000

Median worker pay: $13,582

Then-CEO Steve Ells made 814 times the median Chipotle worker in his last full year as chief executive in 2017.

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4. Darden Restaurant (Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse)

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Ratio: 871 to 1

CEO pay: $15,770,151

Median worker pay: $18,097

According to Darden, the "median employee determined for fiscal 2018 is a part time team member at one of our restaurants."

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3. Starbucks

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Ratio: 1,049 to 1

CEO pay: $13,382,480

Median worker pay: $12,754

Starbucks' 2018 median worker pay for a "a part-time barista in California," was $12,754, including salary and Bean Stock.

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2. Yum Brands (Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut)

Hollis Johnson

Ratio: 1,358 to 1

CEO pay: $12,368,607

Median worker pay: $9,111

Yum Brands, the parent company of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC, defined its 2017 median worker as a "part-time Taco Bell restaurant employee in the U.S. who was employed by the Company for three months."

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1. McDonald's

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

Ratio: 3,101 to 1

CEO pay: $21,761,062

Worker pay: $7,017

McDonald's identified its 2017 median worker as a "part-time restaurant crew employee located in Poland," after considering all part-time, full-time, seasonal, and temporary workers.

McDonald's noted that 90% of CEO Steve Easterbrook's compensation takes the form of "at risk" compensation, which ties pay to the company's performance. With the company's value growing by roughly $36 billion in 2017, Easterbrook's compensation also exploded.